NFHCA announces 2021 NFHCA Division III Regional Players of the Year

Nov 29, 2021 | 2021-2022, Division III, News

2021 NFHCA Division III Regional Players of the Year

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Six student-athletes were selected to represent their respective region as the NFHCA Division III Regional Player of the Year. Each regional award winner is now in the running for NFHCA National Player of the Year honors.

Region I

Paige Forester, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jr., Forward (Glencoe, Illinois)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region I, First Team
  • NEWMAC Athlete of the Year
  • NEWMAC All-Conference First-Team selection
  • Led the NEWMAC in goals (24) and points (60), was second in the nation in points-per-game (3.33)
  • Netted her 100th career point on October 13

Region II

Erin Nicholas, Middlebury College, Sr., Midfielder (Scarsdale, New York)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region II, First Team
  • Named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team
  • NESCAC Player of the Year
  • All-NESCAC First Team
  • Led the Panthers and the NESCAC in goals (28) and points (64)

Region III

Amanda Strenk, University of Rochester, Sr., Forward (Baldwinsville, New York)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region III, First Team
  • Liberty League Player of the Year
  • All-Liberty League First-Team selection
  • Finished the season with a program single-season record in goals (28) and points (48)
  • Two-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week

Region IV

Kristiina Castagnola, Rowan University, Sr., Midfielder (Voorhees, New Jersey)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region IV, First Team
  • 2021 NFHCA Division III Senior Team member
  • Selected to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team
  • NJAC Midfielder of the Year and All-NJAC First-Team selection
  • Led the Profs in points with 44

Region V

Abby Birk, Johns Hopkins University, Sr., Midfielder (Louisville, Kentucky)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region V, First Team and NFHCA Division III Senior Team
  • Selected to the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team
  • Centennial Conference Tournament Most-Valuable Player
  • All-Centennial Conference First-Team selection
  • Holds the Hopkins record for career assists (34), accumulated in just under three seasons

Region VI

Abby Asuncion, Christopher Newport University, Jr., Midfielder (Sterling, Virginia)

  • Named to NFHCA Division III Region VI, First Team
  • Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year
  • All-Coast-to-Coast First-Team selection
  • Led CNU in goals (13) and points (29)
  • Tied for most offensive points in Coast-to-Coast conference rankings

The NFHCA Division III Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the NFHCA. Last week the 2021 NFHCA Division III All-Region teams were announced. The Division III All-American teams will be announced on December 14 and the NFHCA National Player of the Year on December 16.

Region I photo credit: DSPics.com/Dave Silverman

Region II photo credit: Will Costello

Region III photo credit: Rochester Athletics

Region IV photo credit: Nick Feldman

Region V photo credit: Johns Hopkins Athletics

Region VI photo credit: CNU Athletics

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.